US embassy cable - 03ADANA214

UNCLAS ADANA 0214 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, PINS, PGOV, PHUM, TU, IZ, Press Summaries, ADANA 
SUBJECT:  SOUTHEAST TURKEY PRESS SUMMARY, 
          AUGUST 09-10-11, 2003 
 
 
1. This is the Southeastern Turkey press summary 
for August 09-10-11, 2003.  Please note that 
Turkish press reports often contain errors or 
exaggerations; AmConsulate Adana does not vouch 
for the accuracy of the reports summarized here. 
 
 
POLITICAL, SECURITY, HUMAN RIGHTS 
 
 
2. Milli Gazete / Izzet Soysal, son of 
Gozpinar Mayor in Batman, is at the 
hospital after a gun attack.  The 
investigation of the attack continues. 
 
 
3. Tercuman / In Tunceli the government 
released five old women who were arrested 
for helping PKK/KADEK.  The women spent 
about three years in prison. 
 
 
4. Turkiye / After the attack resulting in the 
death of two policemen in Mardin, security 
officials took extra security measures in 
the area. 
 
 
5. Tercuman / In Adana authorities arrested 
Cengiz Ilhantekin.  Ilhantekin allegedly 
hired K.O to kill Bar Attorney Mehmet 
Sayis. 
 
 
6. Turkiye, Hurriyet / About 600 PKK/KADEK 
members wait on Sirnak rurals for 
surrender. 
 
 
7. Milliyet / About 100 PKK/KADEK members 
applied to officials for surrender in 
Diyarbakir. 
 
 
8. Turkiye / Hasan Yilmaz, Assistant Chief of 
Hatay Policemen, was found dead in his 
house.  Yilmaz had started his position in 
Hatay a few days ago. 
 
 
ECONOMIC 
 
 
9.  Expres, Cumhuriyet, Milli Gazete 
/"Volunteers for the   Environment" 
gathered on the banks of Tigris and 
protested against the pollution in Tigris 
River. They announced that the pollution in 
the river affects the people who use the 
water for drinking and cooking purposes. 
 
 
10. Turkiye, Express / Businessman Namik Bicer 
exported 200 mobile toilets for the 
American soldiers in Iraq.  Bicer also 
stated that they are exporting about 5000 
school desks to Iraq. 
 
 
11. Turkiye / In Bilgi village in Van five 
people are said to have anthrax. 
 
 
TOURISM and CULTURE 
 
 
12.  Turkiye / Two German architects arrived in 
Hasankeyf/Batman for the restoration of El 
Rizk Mosque. 
 
 
13. Turkiye / UNESCO nominated Hatay and Bursa 
as candidates for "World Town of Peace". 
HART